Three years after Gaza pullout, and 81% of the evacuees are still living in temporary housing, said a Maagar Mohot Institute survey, headed by Professor Yitzhak Katz.

This survey, the first large-scale one of its kind, examining the evacuees’ financial, emotional and medical situation as well as their attitude towards state institutions. The data is scheduled to be presented before the Knesset on Wednesday.

According to the data, 44% of those who took part in the survey said they believe it will take at least two more years before they are transferred to permanent housing; thus prolonging their stay in the temporary structures by five years at least.

Some 67% of the Gush Katif evacuees aren’t satisfied with their temporary housing arrangement.

More than 50% of them are busy job-hunting and don’t believe they can find employment and reenter the work market. The sector suffering the hardest is the agricultural one: Three years after the pullout, about 31% of the evacuees whose livelihood was agriculture-based are still unemployed.

Moreover, 37% of the Gush Katif evacuees describe their situation as “bad” or “very bad.” Another 15% say they need financial aid and are being supported by relatives or friends. Some 70% of the participants claim their financial situation is far worse than it was prior to the evacuation.

This article was taken from YNetNews.com 07/23/08: To view the full story, click here